Archive: News

Continuing its examination of how the Community Justice Center’s Day Reporting Program might be relocated so that the County could vacate the Old County Library building, the Legislature’s Capital Plan Review Committee today reviewed architects’ detailed concept plans and cost estimates for a proposed slight expansion of the County Human Services Building.

LaBella Associates estimated cost of the 1,600 square foot one-story bump-out on the southeast corner of the building to accommodate Day Reporting at about $1.5 million, including the considerable reconfiguration and renovation of interior space needed.  County Administrator Joe Mareane noted that, as part of the County’s extensive examination of space needs as part of the Center of Government business case analysis, a cost of $1.5 million had been estimated to relocate Day Reporting.

In response to a question from Committee Chair Mike Lane, Probation Director Pat Buechel and Social Services Commissioner Patricia Carey both confirmed that the proposed redesign would be acceptable for their programs.  The Committee expects to decide at its next meeting July 10 how to proceed, and whether to formally recommend the project to the Legislature.

LaBella also presented plans and cost estimates for a potential capital project at the County Public Safety Building that would construct a secure covered outdoor year-round recreation area, then renovate the existing interior recreation space as dormitory housing to provide seven additional jail beds—that cost estimated at just over $850,000.  A later phase of the project, which would convert the existing library into dormitory space at an estimated cost of just over $150,000, would provide another seven jail beds, but could not be undertaken until administrative functions at the building can be relocated.

Sheriff Ken Lansing told the committee he expects the County’s variances regarding its number of jail beds to be preserved for the near term, but cautioned that the State Commission on Corrections now tends to be looking for counties with variances to demonstrate progress toward increasing their jail capacity.  He said he believes this effort would represent “a step in the right direction” that would save the County money in inmate board-out expense. The project proposal will next be reviewed by the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee.

Facilities Director Arel LeMaro also reported that the Legislature relocation project, to the second floor of what is now known as the Governor Daniel D. Tompkins Building (formerly the Old Courthouse), will be substantially complete as of June 24, with Legislature Offices planned to move in after July 16, with the Legislature beginning to meet in the new space as of August 6.

v9i22